Can-heading machine



July 14; 1925. 1,546,108

S. A. ROBINSON CAN HEADING MACHINE Filed May 9. 1923 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 anoeutoz 4 flbtommg July 14, 1925. 1,546,108

S. A. ROBINSON CAN HEADING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Huoemtoz July 14, 1925. 1,546,108-

s. A. ROBINSON CAN HEADING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 v nmmu "Wm- R,

/ gym swim JAJi'oz'rzwan Patented July 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY A. ROBINSON, OF KENT, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR, T CARNATION 1\[ILK PROD UCTS COMPANY, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CAN-HEADING MACHINE.

Application flled'May 9,

chines,,of which the following is a description. This invention relates to can heading machines and has for its principal object to t theoperating circuit for the electroma nets.

provide electrically controlled means for holding and positioning a can head whereby it may be accurately assembled inconnection with the end ofthe can body to be 1 soldered or otherwise permanently fixed thereto. I I In accomplishing the above purpose, in one embodiment of my present invention, I propose to equi can heading machines such as are now emp oyed in this art with electromagnets and with a suitably arranged automatic timingdevice for energizing the magnets and maintaining the respective magnets in energized condition for definite periods of time, each magnet by its attractive influence, holding and positioning a can endfor application to the can body. I- have found in; practice that the use of electro-magnets enables me to so positively and accurately position the can ends with respect to the walls of the can bodies. that possible leaks at the heads of the can maybe obviated and also that the speed of operation of the heading machine can be materially increased.

With the above and other objects inview, the invention consists in the improved can heading machine and in the form,- construction and relative arrangement of its several ing machines, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding 39 parts throughout the several views: Figure '1 is a side. levationofthe can heading machine having the present inven- .tion ppl d ther +3 of Fig. 2;

parts, as will be hereinafter described, 'illus- I the application of one practical and satis-' 1923. Serial m. 637,919.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail section through one of the can holding devicestaken 'on the line Fig. 4:. is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4 illustrating the mounting. of the can end holding magnet; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating For purposes of illustration, I have s own a well known type of can heading machine .wherein spaced rotary heads are fixed upon a common shaft 5. Each of these heads carries a circularly arranged series of can holding devices consisting of inner fixed jaw members 6 and outer radial slidable aw members 7. The opposed faces of these aw members are concaved to receive the end of a can body and at one end of the recess in the fixed jaw6, a plate or disc 8 is suitably secured. This plate is provided with acentral opening in which one end of the'electromagnet 9 is mounted and secured in any approved manner.

Preferably, the

magnet is arranged to project through one s1de of the disc 8, and therefore, as shown inthe drawings, the magnet may be conveniently secured in fixed relation to the disc by providing the magnet core at one of its ends with a flange 10 fitting into the rabbeted edge of the opening in the disc and fixedly secured therein by any approved means, as by brazing or up-setting the metal atthe edge of the opening.

In the rotation of he heads, thesliding jaw members 7 are successively moved inwardly towards the fixed aw members and retained in such position during a predetermined portion of each revolut1on by means "ofthe spaced plunger members 11 suitably mounted upon the frame of the machine to engage the arms 12 of the movable jaw members. Such inward movement of the jaw members is retained and said members 'returnedto their normal positions by means of suitable springs .13.

The energization of the electromagnets 9 I is properlytimed so that the corresponding .magnets carried by the rotating heads will be energized only during the time required is fix eaas we the an body- Smog the means for efiecting a permanent connection between the ends of the can and the body constitute no part of my'prese'nt invention, it is not herein described in detail. The timing mechanism for the electromagnets is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. Between one of the bearings for the shaft 5 and one of the rotating heads, a member 1 40f suitable insulating material is fixed upon said shaft and carries a plurality of'circumferentially spaced contacts 15 projecting from they periphery thereof, said contacts corresponding in number with the number of magnets on each'head. These contacts are adapted to successively engage the timer shoe,15"suitably fixed to the machine frameand insulated therefrom. In concentric relation to the member 14a plurality of spaced metal segments 16 are mounted, eaclrof said segments being connected by a wire 17 to. one

of the'co'ntacts 15; Wires 18 also connect these plates OPSGglIleIltS '16 with the magnets 9'of the adjacentrotary head, the magnets of said head being electrically connected with the corresponding magnets of the other head by the wires 19, the opposite side of themagnetcoil being connected to a part of the, machine frame' serving as a ground 30' through'the' wires 20. Current is supplied through the timer shoe 15 from any suitable source, as diagrammatically shown in Figure 6, but preferably, I use a 110 Volt Since only 90 energiza'tion ofthe magnets, I interpose in the circuit as a resistance two 12(lwatt car- 'bon lamps indicated at 21, whichmay also conveniently serve as pilot lights. 'However,it will be understood that a suitable resistance of any other type may be. em-

ployed if desired.

7 It will be understood from the above that as the contacts 15 successively engage the timer shoe 15. the corresponding magnets are energized. The can body with the ends "assembled are fed into the, top ofthejmachine as shown in Figure 2 of the'drawings, and are-received 1n the holding devices-carried by the spaced heads as they successivelyreach a predetermined position. In

the continued rotation of theseheads, the outer holding .jaws 7 are moved inwardly upon the can body and can ends and simultaneously the .electromagnets 9 are energized. The magnetic attraction of these such a can heading 'machine at greater speeds than has heretofore been permlssible.

From the foregoing description considered in connection withjthe accompanying drawings, the construction, manner of operation 'and several advantages of the'invention will be fully and clearly understood. It'willbe- 'seen that I have, by means of a relatively simple attachment to can heading machines. now generally employed in this art, produced an. efficient, positively acting electrically controlled 7 means for. holding and accurately retaining the can endsin perpendicular position for proper application to the previously forme'd'c'an bodies. In so far'as I am aware suchelectrically controlled can end holding means is broadly new 'in the art, andlit will',;therefore be understood that while I. have herein disclosed a specific embodiment of my present invention,in its practical application and use,it isnot necessarily. limited to, the tie .tails of structure relative tothe mounting of the electromagnets orthe" automatietiming means for. the energization thereof. Therefore,. I reserve the"privilege ofexemplifying my' present improvements in other possible mechanical structureswhereby'the desired results may/be securedand tween' the heads into each set"o f"]'aws asthe shaft. is rotated, means operative" successive'lyto hold each'p'air of unsecured "can ends in perpendicular relation in thefljaws' at the end of the associated can bodyfor. a portion of 'the rotation of .the shaft, and

means simultaneously operating ithe 'jaw members during the assembling" of the can ends on the'can body, after which thecan is released from the heads and"thefjaws-are I maintained in open position.

'lioldthe latter ina perpendicular position.

The length of the timer shoe 15 is such that the magnets remain energized for the period-requisite to insure. that the can ends will beproperly drawn and held in applied to the -very positive action of "the electro- 2. In a can heading machine comprising 7 v p v a'pai'r of'spaced headsffixedlymounted on a magnetsupon the can jheads serves to fixedly rotary shaft, an. inner seriesof can receivmg jawsand outer SGIlEBS of relatively "movable engagingijaws carried'by each head in complemental relation with one another, each head' having aseries of electromagnets associated with said *3 awe and a series-of electric circuits the'ref'oriadapited to bel indi- "vidu'allymnd successivelyenergized, "means adjacent to said heads' for $eedi11g--ean bodies each having unsecured ends between the heads into each set of jaws as the shaft is rotated, means operative to energize each cooperating pair of said electromagnets successively to hold each pair of unsecured can ends in perpendicular relation in the jaws at the end of the associated can body for a portion of the rotation of the shaft, and means simultaneously operating the jaw members during the assembling of the can 1 ends on the can body, after which the can is released from the heads and the jaws are maintained in open position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereunder.

S. A. ROBINSON. 

